The Twisted Treeline

It has been many tendays since I have left Glennhaven, working on the Druid Grove for my lady takes up much of my time, but my devotion to her keeps me motivated. Still, I find myself restless and in need of newer scenery. Many adventurers have returned recently, some from the Black Marsh, telling tales of areas where my Lady's creatures avoid, indicating extreme evil nearby. I will not allow such evil to taint my Lady's grove, not before it has been completed. Ulgar Anvilbreaker, Audrey, a new comer to town, and a half-orc named Liink wish to aid me, My Lady will look after them for this generous deed, as will I.
 
We take our leave on foot, Stormrunner will stay in glen with my other friends looking after the blade. After asking for our traditional blessing from Amberlune's avatar, again my Lady grants me a strange boon, but nevertheless I am grateful. We depart shortly after, a quick two days from the hamlet and a river to cross, we hunt for game to feed ourselves and Amberlune is bountiful. On one of these nights, we encountered the most adorable creation of my Lady. one dubbed Twiddletoads. I desperately wish to befriend on and entice it to live in the grove. Audrey, unfortunately, felt the full affect of their special secretion, one must be very careful or you will succumb to the euphoria. Crafty little things, and quite cute.
 
We arrived at the marshes and right away, the difference brought by the month of Malinvar is apparent, the marshes, blacker than ever. We begin venturing inward, towards where the others had been before, the trees here seem to form walls and corridors, restricting our path. We come across several hollowed out trees, with claw marks within them, as if something burst outward perhaps from within it. Then suddenly, a voice, one that speaks only to me, it welcomed me here, to my "birthplace" and before it went silent it said, "those who are of not of our kind will not understand our pain."
 
We delve deeper into these impossibly thick woods and find foot prints that lead to the south, we follow them to discover several mounds of freshly disturbed earth hiding trin kets and baubles. Deeper still, and the trees give way to a cavern-like area where the darkness is broken by brightly illuminating fungi pulsing with each touch and step, giving off spores of some kind, and larger fungi that seem to allow for some bounce. Liink is brave enough to launch himself first, then Audrey followed by Ulgar. I send each of them with Amberlune's blessing before using my druidic abilities to change my being to that of a spider, making traversing this area much simpler.
 
Beyond is more of a bio-luminescent grass that seem to lead to a room with a humanoid crying out in agony. Again, the voice assails my mind and says,"closer my dear, closer to the birth place. Join us once again..the forest is hungry." I believe this to be the voice of Malivus Ivius, and the tortured creature before us, a poor Anoralfar or Ithilalfar being converted, just as the legends say. No, this will not stand, but mercy first.
 
My mercy however brought forth a terrible creature made of tree and flesh, bark and organ, rising from the ground, using the corpse of my mercy. Savagery, filthy magics perverting the very nature of my Lady and the realm she created. This monster proved resistant to most of our attacks, but we persevered and felled the thing and it's spawn-lings. I sustained many blows and my compatriots felt it best to reserve our strength, now that we have come this far. So we returned to the safety of Glennhaven, to lick our wounds and prepare ourselves further. I vowed to Amberlune to vanquish the evil in that marsh, and I will, will my Lady's blessing and protection. Perhaps finishing the grove will strengthen her hold here and bring a much need life lacking in these parts.